Journal of Human Rights Studies 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.67
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pISSN : 2635-4632 / eISSN : 2765-6748
- https://journal.kci.go.kr/jhrs
KJCKorea
Journal Central
COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia-Pacific Region: A Human Rights Perspective
- Journal of Human Rights Studies
- Abbr : JHRS
- 2020, 3(1), pp.67-132
- DOI : 10.22976/JHRS.2020.3.1.67
- Publisher : Korean Association of Human Rights Studies
- Research Area : Social Science > Law > Law of Special Parts > Human Rights / International Human Rights Law
- Received : June 11, 2020
- Accepted : June 19, 2020
- Published : June 30, 2020
1IE University(Spain)
Candidate
ABSTRACT
This article focuses on the human rights perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Asia-Pacific Region. It highlights the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the rights of life and health, made worse by the increased threats to the freedom from want in a climate of heightened fear. The vulnerable have become more vulnerable with the pandemic experiencing a disproportionate share of the pain and suffering, worsening poverty on the economically and socially marginalised sections of society. Millions have lostlivelihoods overnight, become homeless, displaced and had to make the existential choice of fighting to survive COVID-19 or hunger. In the Asia-Pacific region, where many countries have health facilities that are highly inadequate and coping mechanisms including social nets that are weak, these vulnerable, displaced, destitute persons have had to make a million perilous journeys in desperation. On the way, they have faced abuses, verbal and physical, from law-enforcement personnel, amongst others. Many have been stranded and forced to live precariously in limbo in make-shift camps. They face a very uncertain future with fewer jobs, lesser security. Women have had to bear the brunt in terms of higher unemployment and increased exposure to gender-based violence. Minority communities are under increased attacks with greater intolerance, at times fueled by populist majority-community political leaders. The conditions of persons deprived of liberty, which were already of concern, have got worse. Communities in conflictzones, refugees and asylum-seekers, migrants have become more vulnerableto the depredations of this pandemic and its aftermath. The ground has shifted beneath their feet. There has been an onset of an economic and social crises of grave proportions. The article highlights that human cost and erosion of human dignity as a consequence of the pandemic underlines the universality, indivisibility, essentiality of human rights. The unprecedented challenges during these uncertain times require that Governments and non-State actors need to adopt holistic, human-centric, rights-centered policies and measures.
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